Sun Pharma says it will not sell semaglutide drugs in India until Novo Nordisk patent expires

The patent dispute between Novo Nordisk and Sun Pharma over semaglutide reached the Delhi High Court, with Sun Pharma assuring that it will not sell any drugs based on the compound in India while the patent remains in force.

The Danish drug maker, which claims patent protection for semaglutide in India until March 2026, had approached the court seeking to restrain Sun Pharma from manufacturing and selling products containing the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Semaglutide is the key ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic.

During the hearing, Sun Pharma submitted that it would refrain from selling semaglutide-based drugs domestically until Novo Nordisk’s patent term ends. However, the company stated that it will continue to export such products to markets where Novo Nordisk does not hold a patent.

The Delhi High Court directed Sun Pharma to file a formal undertaking before the court.

Novo Nordisk currently holds two key patents related to semaglutide. One expired in September 2024 while the second is scheduled to lapse in March 2026. Sun Pharma, in its recent quarterly earnings, had openly spoken about the opportunity and its intent to enter the segment.

Earlier last week, the Delhi High Court allowed Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, which is producing semaglutide generics, to export the products to overseas markets. Novo Nordisk is now challenging that order, as it also seeks to prevent Sun Pharma from moving forward with its own generic.

Companies such as Mankind Pharma and Cipla are also expected to seek entry into the market once the final patent expires in 2026. With several domestic manufacturers preparing to launch competing products, the legal tussle is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched disputes in India’s pharmaceutical sector.

Also Read: India’s weight-loss drug boom accelerates in November